.Maria.

My name is Maria and I have been banded for a year now... my surgery was 9/27/10 in Melrose Park. My start weight was 298 and I now weigh 204. I still have about 45 pounds to lose. I am available to anyone who needs support, has questions, needs suggestions, etc. You can email me or find me on facebook: bandedprincess@gmail.com. - Maria Azalea

My name is Maria and I have been banded for a year now... my surgery was 9/27/10.My start weight was 298 and I now weigh 204. I have had many up's and down's along my journey and it's been a little crazy but I am fortunate enough to have two of my very close friends on this journey along with me. They got banded right around the same time. So I understand how crucial it is to have a good support system. I am available to anyone who needs support, has questions, needs suggestions, etc. You can email me or find me on facebook: bandedprincess@gmail.com. - Maria Azalea

Hope everyone is doing well and having amazing success with their band. I'm still here if you need someone to talk to. FYI: Im on facebook. You can look me up under bandedprincess@gmail.com

Have him go to a salon that supplies Dermalogica so that he can get Face Mapped (like Ulta). A certified skin therapist would be able to help him out with a few products made with natural ingredients. Hope this helps!!!

LMAO! Here's my experience.... I was banded by Dr. Reishus, an amazing man!!! I couldn't be more grateful for how he handled my journey. The one day he wasn't available I had to see Dr. T.... NEVER AGAIN! The way Dr. T spoke to me caught me by surprise, I felt like a freaking 5 year old and I barely got a word in... and like Peacefulband said, he was there for like a minute and then vanished, lol. Two of my friends and I also had issues with Cecilia and had to involve the Office Manager. Cecilia tried to give me the run around a few times and just brush me off. If you want her to get things done then you really have to be on top of her, no joke. SMH! And if you ever need any advice about the band don't call her. Make sure you speak to Julianne, the Bariatric Coordinator at West Lake or Christina at Dr. T's office... they are both sensational women!!! Also, Sherri is extremely helpful as far as nutrition goes.. and she's always at the meetings... another amazing woman. Good Luck and hope to see you all at the next meeting!!! July 18th....

****CLICK HERE**** ">My link Maybe this one will work? If not you can copy and paste the address below: http://www.vivint.co...ct/charity/1022 VOTE

Thanks!!! Its with the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation... I tried putting the link but I guess I wasn't successful with that. Anyone have any idea how I can post the link so that people can click on it and be directed to the voting page?

My son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and we need to raise as much money as we can for research to help all Sensational kids diagnosed with this disorder. Not asking for monetary donation... all you have to do is click on the link below and vote everyday. The winning organization receives $1.25 million!!! So please vote with the link below LapBand Familia. I appreciate it!!!! <a href="http://My%20son%20was%20diagnosed%20with%20Sensory%20Processing%20Disorder%20and%20we%20need%20to%20raise%20as%20much%20money%20as%20we%20can%20for%20research%20to%20help%20all%20Sensational%20kids%20diagnosed%20with%20this%20disorder.%20Not%20asking%20for%20monetary%20donation...%20all%20you%20have%20to%20do%20is%20click%20on%20the%20link%20below%20and%20vote%20everyday.%20The%20winning%20organization%20receives%20$1.25%20million!!!%20So%20please%20vote%20with%20the%20link%20below%20LapBand%20Familia.%20I%20appreciate%20it!!!!%20%20%20<a%20href=" http:="" www.vivint.com="" givesbackproject="" charity="" 1022"="">">My link <a href="http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject/charity/1022"><img src="http://media.vivint.com/www.vivint.com/en/images/givesbackproject/givesback_banner_728x90_version_1.gif" alt="Vivint is giving away $1.25 Million to charities. Help us win!" width="728" height="90" /></a>

Im in the Humboldt Park Area. Not really familiar with the south shore culture center or that area. But Im here if anyone has questions or needs support

Yay!!! Congrats!!! I know it feels amazing. Just a few weeks ago I shopped at GAP... I never had set foot in that store because I was always so embarrassed of what people would think. Before the surgery I was a 24/26 and now Im also an XL. The day I went in there and started trying on clothes.... I literally cried in the dressing room, lol.

You may not be eating as much but you could be possibly be eating the wrong foods. That was my problem when I had very little weight loss. I figured that because I'm eating less that I can eat whatever I wanted which in turn caused me to only loose like 3 pounds a month! Not cool. So I changed my eating habits. For break fast I have one of those super Thin Bagels with light strawberry cream cheese, Lunch is usually 3oz of any type of meat (usually baked or pan fried with cooking spray) and a side of veggies, and Dinner is basically the same as lunch except I usually include about 1/4 cup of rice with my meal and 1/2 the veggies. In between meals I drink about 32oz of water and I won't allow myself to eat unless I have drank every ounce of that. I was told to completely stay away from pasta (slips through the band a lot easier and faster which causes you to eat more) and fruits (too much sugar). So I did and it definitely helps with the weight loss. As far as exercise goes, I was doing a hardcore bootcamp for a while but now I just run at the park about 4/5 times a week for an hour or so. I hope this helps

I was banded by one of his partners, Dr. Reishus

Hey!!!! I'm still here if anyone needs support, has questions or wants to meet up in the city

I'm from Chicago